… and of course, it was. 

when we reached matapi peak, 8490 ft. above sea level, and checked the views of mt. siyeh and going-to-the-sun mountain of glacier national park – there wasn’t an ounce of my aching legs or wind-burned body that regretted making the effort.

yet, we hippy-dippy yoga types are so keen on telling everyone to just “go with the flow” and it’ll all be alright ... but what if alright isn’t good enough for me?  maybe i want spectacular?  or amazing?  or beyond my wildest dreams? 

i admit - it occurred to me to turn back.  i looked behind and saw the downhill slope and thought how easy it would be … yet completely no fun at all. so i kept going.

even fish go against the flow for something worthwhile.  trout do it to feed and salmon do it to lay their eggs.  these tiny creatures are smart enough to know, when something matters – go against the flow, not with.

truth is, there isn’t anything in my life that has been worth a damn that i didn’t have to swim upstream to find.  nothing.  there isn’t one moment of elation, one serious achievement, one love or one glorious story to tell, that didn’t come with it’s own strenuous tale of drudgery - including setbacks, doubts, and the usual fear.

so the next time you’re struggling or facing a steep challenge and one of us hippy-dippy yoga types tell you to “relax” and “just go with the flow” … that’s your cue to keep on going.  and i promise – when you reach the place it’s ok to rest, the view from where you sit will be like none you’ve seen before.

happy climbing!